Update: Shah Rukh Khan detained and questioned at US airport

Colleagues express disgust

Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan was on Saturday (August 15) questioned for two hours at New Jersey’s Newark airport over his surname and was freed only after Indian diplomats intervened.

The Indian government and entertainment industry reacted furiously after the 43-year-old actor, named by Newsweek last year as one of the world's 50 most powerful men, revealed how he was detained and stopped from even using his mobile telephone.

Speaking to CNN-IBN channel on telephone from the US, Shah Rukh appeared to shrug off the embarrassing episode saying he had suffered similar treatment previously too.

The incident happened as the hugely popular actor, whose fans number millions in India and abroad, was on his way to Chicago to attend an event related to India's Independence Day.

Other Bollywood stars like Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan too are set to attend the function.

"They checked me because I was an Asian," the actor said. "They wanted to know why I came to the US and where I am staying."

Shah Rukh's manager Niloufer Qureshi earlier told IANS over telephone from Mumbai: "He was detained because his surname is Khan. He was kept until officials from the Indian embassy intervened."

Asked if he got into trouble because of his giveaway Muslim name, Shah Rukh, who is married to a Hindu, said: "Certain countries have issues with my name." He quickly added: "I am very proud of my name."

Shah Rukh admitted that he became "greatly worried" as the American officials piled him with questions - mainly about his travel to the US.

The actor said a large number of Indians, including organisers of the Chicago event, were waiting outside at the airport to receive him. Indian diplomats came to his rescue when they heard about his plight.

He said it was ironic that the incident happened on the eve of August 15 - when freedom is celebrated by Indians.

"I personally feel it is over and done," he said, sounding conciliatory. Asked if he felt like reacting in a similar way, he replied: "If they want I can frisk Angelina Jolie when she is here (India)."

Undoubtedly one of Bollywood's biggest and most highly paid stars, Shah Rukh has acted in nearly 70 films in a career spanning 17 years.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni Saturday reacted angrily to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan being detained at a US airport, saying it was not justified.

"I don't think that this manner of detaining the name of religion is justified. But in the United States of America several examples have surfaced where frisking takes place more than required, according to us," Soni, who was the tourism minister in the previous government, told reporters here.

"I have always felt - even when I was frisked there - that the way they frisk us we should do the same for them here," she added.

"He was detained because his surname is Khan. He was kept until officials from the Indian embassy intervened. Now he has been released," Niloufer Qureshi, Shah Rukh's manager, told IANS over telephone from Mumbai.

In April, former president A.P.J. Kalam was also frisked at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here as he was boarding a flight of US carrier Continental Airlines.

The incident had created waves in parliament in July, with MPs from across the spectrum expressing outrage over Kalam being reportedly subjected to a full body check and even asked to remove his footwear as he waited on the aerobridge to board the Newark-bound flight.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vishnu Prakash has said India has taken up the issue with the US embassy and the consul general of

India in New York is in touch with Shah Rukh.

"The matter was taken up with the US embassy," Prakash said.

In a statement, US Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said: "We are trying to ascertain the facts of the case - to understand what took place."

Shah Rukh was a "global icon" and "he is a very welcome guest in the United States. Many Americans love his films," the envoy added.

Describing Shah Rukh as the "pride of India", Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi expressed surprise he was detained at the airport.

"Shah Rukh Khan is the pride of India. I am quite surprised that he was detained in the Newark airport," Ravi told IANS on the phone from Kochi.

Here's what King Khan's friends and colleagues had to say:

Karan Johar: I am shocked and upset...feeling terrible for Shah Rukh.

Priyanka Chopra: Shocking, disturbing and downright disgraceful. It's such behaviour that fuels hatred and racism. Shah Rukh Khan is a world figure for god's sake. Get real!

Kabir Khan: When I heard this news, I was so surprised...it has almost become a routine - if you have a Muslim name you are bound to be questioned. It happened with me thrice in the US. I was stopped by immigration officials for three to five hours... they don't care whether you are a celebrity or whoever. But when it comes to Shah Rukh, it doesn't take more than 20 seconds to figure out who he is - any search engine (on the Internet) will give more information on him than Hollywood stars Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt and despite that if it took them two hours to figure out, then its harassment. Post 9/11 it is prejudice to have a person's name and religion checked and it is very discouraging as well.

Pritish Nandy: This is the problem with law enforcers worldwide...Truly obnoxious. Cops don't want to recognise anybody. They love to show their power and authority, especially in the US.

Kunal Kohli: It's really disgusting. Even if they had done a Google search on their mobiles, they would have seen who he is. What were they checking for two hours on their super computers? To detain him for two hours is ridiculous, disgusting and an insult to us Indians.

Arindam Chaudhari: Shah Rukh has just finished his film "My Name Is Khan" in which his character tries to prove to the Americans that he is not a terrorist. I'm sure he never thought it would happen in real life too...What a shame! It's shocking and shameful because I am sure Shah Rukh would have had to explain who he is. It's Shah Rukh so it's become big news. But there many who constantly go through this every day. It's really sad.

Eesha Koppikhar: I am not sure of the exact events but if he was detained just because he is a Muslim with Khan as a last name, it is very wrong.